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Gossip: Lacazette price grows, Zlatan wanted Milan

Date published: Monday 5th September 2016 8:23

ZLAT’S LIFEFinding transfer gossip on a Monday morning tends to be difficult. Finding transfer gossip on a Monday morning in an international week is a thankless task. Finding transfer gossip on a Monday morning in an international week a matter of days after the window? You’d have better luck finding an England manager who is comfortable actually telling his captain where to play.

But fear not, for we have scrambled some together. And where better to start than with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. You see, the Sweden international secured his move as a free agent to Manchester United this summer, revealing in June that he had chosen Old Trafford as his next destination. It was hardly a secret, of course; everyone knew where he was headed when his Paris Saint-Germain departure was announced.

According to Mino Raiola however, United was not the striker’s first choice. In comments given to Mediaset, the agent claims that the 34-year-old preferred a return to AC Milan first and foremost – although he goes on to say that “we always worked towards Manchester United”. Which one is it?

“Italy cannot afford him, so we had to work out other plans,” Raiola said. “Milan are in his heart, certainly his favourite club in Italy and probably the whole world. But this summer we always worked towards Manchester United.”

ALEXANDRE THE GREATAlexandre Lacazette is a name regularly linked with a Premier League move. Both Arsenal and West Ham had bids rejected for the Lyon striker this summer. The Gunners offered £29m; the Hammers offered around £40m.

According to the latest reports, if both clubs wish to follow up their interest, they will have to dig much, much deeper. For Lyon are preparing to offer the striker a new contract. French newspaper L’Equipe say Lacazette is in line for an improved £85,000-a-week deal.

The figure which will be of interest to clubs who want the 25-year-old is the new release clause expected to be inserted into the contract. It would take a big old £59m to prise him away from France.

CHAMAKH MY PITCH UPFrom Ibrahimovic to Lacazette, the gossip is clearly centered around some of Europe’s finest strikers. So where better to finish than with Marouane Chamakh?

The former Arsenal striker was released by Crystal Palace this summer, and has been attempting to find a new club. A trial with West Brom ended in injury, but one club remains interested in the Moroccan. That club, according to the Daily Mirror, is Championship Norwich. They are expected to offer the free agent a deal this week.

AND THE RESTJuventus are lining up a move for Manchester United right-back Matteo Darmian in January…PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who was linked with Arsenal last season, admits he would like to move to the Premier League in the future…Liverpool are understood to have failed in an approach to sign Lucas Digne in the summer, with the left-back eventually joining Barcelona from PSG…Kieran Gibbs is considering his future at Arsenal with Nacho Monreal firmly established as the club’s first-choice left-back…Bordeaux goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso claims he rejected a move to Sunderland on deadline day…Owen Coyle admits Blackburn are likely to renew their interest in Lens centre-half Abdoul Ba in January…Former Watford defender Joel Ekstrand has joined Bristol City after proving his fitness on trial.